Zogby International Poll:
Parents Prefer Abstinence Education 2 to 1
A poll was commissioned by NAEA in 2007. It was
conducted through a nationwide telephone survey of
1,002 parents of children age 10-16 by Zogby International.
The purpose of the poll was to determine the level of support
for abstinence-centered education among parents. The results
confirm that parents overwhelmingly support abstinence
education as historically funded by Congress.
Most parents want their teens to be abstinent until
they are married.
9 out of 10 parents agree that being
sexually abstinent is best for their child’s health and future.
8 in 10 “strongly agree.”
Parents prefer abstinence-centered education over
comprehensive sex education by a 2 to 1 margin.
Upon
learning what abstinence-centered education actually teaches,
6 out of 10 parents prefer it to comprehensive sex education.
Only 3 out of 10 prefer comprehensive.
At least 8 in 10 parents support the overall approach of
abstinence-centered education.
They think public schools
should emphasize promoting abstinence vs. encouraging
contraceptive use.
At least 8 in 10 parents support the core tenets of
abstinence-centered education:
- Developing healthy relationships improve their chances
for a healthy future marriage.
- The benefits of renewed abstinence to sexually experienced
students.
- Improving self-worth and self-control as means of reducing
premarital sexual activity.
- How an unplanned pregnancy and/or STD can negatively
affect a teen’s future.
Most parents reject “comprehensive” sex education.
2 out
of 3 parents think that the importance of the “wait to have
sex” message ends up being lost when programs demonstrate
and encourage the use of contraception.
9 out of 10 parents want teens to be taught about
contraception in a manner that is consistent with the
approach of abstinence-centered education.
9 out of 10
parents think teens should be taught how often condoms fail
to prevent pregnancy based upon typical use. Over 9 out of
10 parents think that teens should be taught the limitations
of condoms in preventing specific STDs.
Parents want more funding given to abstinence-centered
education than to comprehensive sex education by a 3 to 1
margin.
6 out of 10 parents think more government funding
should be given to abstinence education vs. comprehensive
sex education. Only 2 out of 10 want more funding for
comprehensive sex education.
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